Small farmer makes a comeback after devastating floods
Genadendal farmer Johannes Arendse sells his produce in Cape Town
Western Cape
Constitutional Court win for asylum seekers
Provisions in the Refugees Act introduced in January 2020 struck down for violating a number of fundamental rights
Cranes added at Transnet’s Cape Town Container Terminal to boost productivity
Cranes added at Transnet’s Cape Town Container Terminal to boost productivity
Transnet’s Cape Town Container Terminal (CTCT) has received a delivery of seven pre-used rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs).
The acquisition of the RTGs is part of the State-owned entity’s turnaround plan, whose key priorities include equipment availability, in order to support operational efficiencies.
Western Cape Terminals Managing Executive, Andiswa Dlanga, said: “The acquisition of additional RTGs in our terminal will go a long way in offering a reliable service to our customers, a much-needed boost for the growth of the Western Cape and South Africa's economy.
“As a business, we are committed to deliver on our promise to customers and industry, thus equipment availability and reliability are at the core of what we do. These additional machines will enable us to improve operational performance and turn-around vessels on time”.
In a statement, Transnet Port Terminals [TPT] explained that the new cranes will bring the number of TRGs operating at the CTCT to 27 – a timely boost as ahead of the peak of the deciduous season which is the terminal’s busiest time.
“Out of the 20 RTGs, seven of them were recently fitted with new engines and three with generators. CTCT is currently completing maintenance repairs on two additional RTGs, which will bring the total number to 29. Over the next few days, the engineering team will spend time commissioning all the seven RTGs to ensure readiness before they are officially handed over to operations. Concurrently, the operations team will roll out training to operators who will be working on the additional RTG machines.
“The acquisition of RTGs is a display of TPT’s commitment to the industry and stakeholders as more reliable equipment directly leads to improved productivity while also ensuring seamless vessel movement within the port,” the statement read. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Tue, 12/12/2023 - 11:29
159 views
Don’t miss out on every the festive cheer at the Sweetdale Night Market at Serenity Hills
The monthly Sweetdale Night Market hosted at The Packshed restaurant in Margate on the last Friday of every month has become a firm calendar favourite owing to its stunning forest setting, family-friendly environment and wide range of high-quality offerings. This December, KZN Mid-South Coast residents and holidaymakers are in for a treat as there will …
Process to procure nuclear energy to launch
Process to procure nuclear energy to begin
South Africa will soon begin the procurement process for some 2 500MW of nuclear energy.
Minister in The Presidency responsible for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, announced this during a media briefing on Tuesday.
The Minister explained that the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) had to satisfy a raft of rigorous National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) suspensive conditions, which take into account various factors before the go-ahead could be issued.
“The DMRE submitted a report to the regulator addressing suspensive conditions in July of 2023. NERSA still had an obligation to satisfy itself if the response from the DMRE to the suspensive conditions are sufficient for NERSA to consider giving this process the greenlight.
“I am happy to indicate that… NERSA considered the DMRE submission… and concluded that the suspensive conditions had been satisfactorily addressed. We are triggering now... essentially a procurement process. We are going out to ensure that we are able to get that additional 2 500MW of nuclear capacity to ensure that we are able to meet issues of national security and energy sovereignty,” Ramokgopa said.
During the briefing, the DMRE said it is looking to release requests for proposals for nuclear by March 2024.
The Minister emphasised that the move is a significant milestone because historically, "the process was mired in controversy".
“We are happy that we’ve been able to iron out the issues related to how the procurement process needs to unfold. We have met the regulatory requirements as per… the legal requirement and now we have the concurrence of NERSA, we are able to proceed.
“This is profound and what it does is to cement our unassailable position as a country, as a leader on the continent in relation to nuclear generation capacity and also the skills profile that we have,” he said.
The Ministerial determination and NERSA’s concurrence is expected to be gazetted soon.
Ramokgopa assured that while government continues to build towards energy security in the future, energy continues to be poured into addressing the immediate challenge of load shedding.
“Nuclear… gives us a significant and important platform for us to be able to ensure that we are able to secure a energy future for ourselves, energy sovereignty for ourselves. Of course, we continue to make every effort to address load shedding because the benefit of what we are announcing, you are not going to see it tomorrow, in a year’s time, you won’t see it in two years’ time… [In] three to four years, that’s when you’ll begin to see the benefits.
“But in the meantime, it’s important that we address the challenges with regards to the immediate problem of load shedding, whilst we secure the energy future, we don’t run into the same problem again in the future and nuclear has proven to be a reliable source of energy,” he said.
South Africa currently has one nuclear power station, Koeberg, located in the Western Cape. The station has two units, which produce 980MW, according to the Minister.
Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2019
During the briefing, Ramokgopa highlighted that Eskom’s current power station fleet is ageing – meaning that South Africa will have to generate additional sources of energy.
In this regard, the Minister alluded to the IRP 2019’s call for the commencement of “preparations for a nuclear build programme… at a pace and scale that the country can afford”, in anticipation of the need to supplement future energy demand when power stations reach their end of life.
Nuclear energy forms part of the IRP 2019’s future envisaged energy mix for South Africa.
“Part of the reason we are here with regards to the energy crisis is that generation can’t meet demand and therefore we need to have additional generation capacity… to help us to ensure that we are able to secure the country’s future,” Ramokgopa said.
According to the DMRE website, South Africa only generates about 6% of its electricity from nuclear energy generated at the Koeberg power station.
The Minister emphasised that the power station has been in operation for about 40 years, “incident free”.
“Now we are in the period of extension of life of Koeberg. We want to secure another 20 years of life of Koeberg. Unit 1 had gone out to meet the regulatory requirements for purposes of meeting the conditions for extension of life. After a significant amount of delays of about four months, now Unit 1 is running on full load.
“Yesterday [Monday], we then removed Unit 2 for purposes of meeting those regulatory requirements and… we are expecting that by August of next year, Unit 2 should come back,” Ramokgopa said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Tue, 12/12/2023 - 10:41
177 views
Nearly two decades later, Makhaza police station is finally set to open soon
Meanwhile the community is being serviced by a 24-hour patrol and a mobile unit
SA20 Lolly
SA20 Lolly to take incredible ‘Taste of Summer’ on a countrywide tour Monday 11 December 2023: As temperatures rise, so does...
South Africa: 16 days are over, now the real work begins
The 16 Days of Activism For No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign has come to an end, but now the real work begins and must continue every day.
For the Western Cape Government (WCG), addressing gender-based violence is not limited to the period of 25 November to 10 December. It is a priority throughout the year.
The Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) has been leading the roll-out of the WCG GBV Implementation Plan. The plan has assisted us in the planning, coordination, and monitoring of efforts that aim to address GBV, directly and indirectly.
It fortifies current GBV services and interventions and allows us to explore new opportunities, like the geo-mapping system the DSD has developed to track the prevalence of GBV in the province and allocate resources accordingly.
“We are doing as much as we can to stem the tide of violence, and support survivors, but government is not the sole agent of change. We are already seeing the very real impact of the 2023 national wage agreement and national budget pressures. Due to the significant cuts from national government in the Adjusted Budget for 2023/24, the Department reduced and reprioritized funding allocations to several sub-programmes, including the Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP),” says Provincial Minister of Social Development Sharna Fernandez.
“This unprecedented cut in the current financial year – and projected reductions in the new financial year – meant we had to halt the opening of a new GBV shelter in Murraysburg. While further cuts are speculative at this stage, I am deeply concerned about the NGO and NPO sector, as well as DSD staff who may have to deal with the increased demand for services. Now more than ever, we need our partners across society to take hands with NGOs in the GBV space that are providing crucial services to survivors and their children. Corporates and citizens who can support registered entities, I encourage you to do so.”
The Department remains committed to supporting all those impacted by violence and abuse, whether women, children, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, or men.
76 178 GBV survivors accessed psychosocial support services provided and funded by DSD in 2022/2023, a significant increase from 51 790 in 2020/21. DSD also funds 26 shelters across the province.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic Of South Africa: Western Cape Provincial Government.
When The Lights Recede Off, The Present Goes On…
Stage 3 till 4pm; Stage 6 from 8pm; Stage 4 tomorrow at 2am… for most of us, trying to keep tabs on the latest – and constantly shifting – loadshedding schedule seems like a job best suited to Napoleon waging war, or by making a Wish upon a star. But, what’s not complicated is deciding …
10 000 current police officers to boost festive season safety position
10 000 new police officers to boost festive season safety plan
Police Minister, General Bheki Cele, has assured the nation that it will be all hands on deck by law enforcement officials this festive season, to ensure a safe holiday period in the country.
“The holiday season is a time where criminals sharpen and refine their operations, taking advantage of the festive mood,” Cele said, addressing the media in Pretoria on Sunday on the festive season safety plan by the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Cele said the festive season is a period largely characterised by festivities and increased migration of people within and across the borders.
“We as the country’s law enforcement have and will continue to upscale our responses to crime this holiday season and beyond,” Cele said.
Through bold efforts and a decisive policing approach to fighting crime, police operations will continue to ensure that the police get a grip on serious and violent crime in the country.
“In the coming days, the bite of the SAPS will be stronger, as we welcome in the police service's 10 000 new officers.
“The 2023 Project 10K police recruitment drive is a direct response to the call from His Excellency, President Cyril Ramaphosa, to strengthen our policing capacity and enhance police visibility. The SAPS recruitment office successfully processed 600 000 of these applications and embarked on a rigorous recruitment drive.
“We are now in the second phase of enlisting 10 000 police officers, who will be graduating from various police academies throughout the country in the coming week. This means there will be 10 000 more boots on the ground come the 15th of December, when the last passing out parade takes place in Tshwane,” the Minister said.
The police trainees have been stationed at police academies across the country for the past months.
“They have been hard at work in perfecting street survival courses, firearm, law and physical training during their completion of the Basic Police Development Learning Program. We have no doubt, the new members will provide a much needed boost to the current policing numbers and amplify our law enforcing efforts.
“These officers will be deployed to sanitise the streets and increase the footprint of the police in all nine provinces,” Cele said.
Their deployment will be prioritised in high crowd zones and areas of entertainment and leisure this holiday season.
With regard to Operation Shanela, Cele said the men and women in blue are doubling their efforts to tackle and squash the enemy of crime lurking in the streets and in communities.
“Police in all provinces are gaining ground on crime and organised criminality and this has been reflected in our last released crime statistics.
“The chunk of the arrests took place in the provinces of the Western Cape with 64 171 arrested suspects, followed by Gauteng with 48 917 arrests while SAPS in KZN arrested a total of 37 769 in the past six months,” he said.
Over 3 200 firearms including 2 500 handguns and 300 rifles have been taken off the streets through Operation Shanela.
“Through Operation Shanela, over 1 717 hijacked or stolen vehicles have been recovered from May to date,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Mon, 12/11/2023 - 09:51
34 views
Weather service warns of heavy rain from Sunday
Weather service warns of heavy rain from Sunday
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has warned of widespread heavy rain in the days ahead, which could result in flooding or river flooding that might cause significant disruption in some provinces.
Initially the weather this weekend will be relatively settled, with just a small chance of thunderstorms over some of the eastern provinces on Friday and Saturday.
“Incidentally, neither the Western Cape nor the Eastern Cape will be directly affected by this weather system. On Sunday, 10 December, weather conditions will begin to deteriorate significantly, as the cut-off low manifests itself over the northern parts of the Northern Cape, introducing marked instability into the atmosphere, to drive widespread showers and thundershowers.
“As tropical air begins to stream southward over Botswana and South Africa, conditions will become progressively cloudy to overcast. During the course of the day, rain will set in over numerous provinces, including North West, the Free State, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and to a lesser extent, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN),” SAWS said.
Heavy rainfall is likely to occur in many parts of the above-mentioned provinces, elevating the risk of flooding as well as river flooding.
The public has been urged to monitor, and to take heed of, regular weather updates and warnings issued by the weather service.
“Moreover, as the rain produced by this system is expected to continue unabated into Monday, 11 December, the ground is likely to become saturated, leading to widespread overland runoff into streams and rivers.
“Whilst this phenomenon will ultimately lead to increased dam levels, the risk of river flooding (and associated road closures and general traffic disruption) will remain particularly high. Disaster management practitioners are also advised to maintain a high level of vigilance during this period, should river flooding continue to pose a safety and health risk to the public at large,” SAWS said.
Motorists and pedestrians are urged not to try to cross rivers or streams, which are already flooded, under any circumstances.
“The cause of the widespread rainy weather will be the combination of three distinct circulation features in the atmosphere over southern Africa. Firstly, a cut-off low is expected to develop, in the upper air of the atmosphere, over the central interior during the latter half of the weekend.
“Secondly, a surface trough is expected to begin intensifying, in sympathy with the deepening upper-air cut-off low. The combination of these two features is well known to have the potential to drive episodes of widespread, often heavy, rain over southern Africa.
“Importantly, in this particular case, there is a third significant factor which is expected to elevate the risk of heavy rainfall from this system. This factor is the expected introduction of a stream of tropically sourced moisture, drawn southwards over the central and eastern interior of South Africa, under the influence of the circulation associated with the surface trough and upper-air system respectively,” SAWS said.
Tropically sourced air is well known to be associated with rainfall of a potentially heavy, widespread nature.
“Currently, numeric weather prediction models suggest that the rainfall in association with this system will start clearing from the west, during the course of Tuesday, 12 December, although areas of heavier rainfall may still linger over KZN, eSwatini and the lowveld regions of Mpumalanga and Limpopo.
“A surface high pressure system is likely to sustain light rainfall over aforementioned provinces on Wednesday, 13 December, as cooler, moist maritime air is introduced to the eastern coastal regions. However, the upper air cut-off low will have moved off the country completely by this time,” SAWS said.
The South African Weather Service will continue to monitor this weather system and issue subsequent updates and impact-based warnings over the next few days.
The public has been advised to regularly follow weather forecasts on television and radio, as well as all social media platforms.
Updated information will regularly be available at www.weathersa.co.za as well as on X at @SAWeatherServic and Facebook @SouthAfricanWeatherservice. – SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Fri, 12/08/2023 - 12:18
412 views
High rate of men murdered a national health priority, say researchers
Medical Research Council study has looked at why 87% of people murdered in South Africa are men
Adoption of NHI Bill by NCOP “historic” – says Health Minister
Adoption of NHI Bill by NCOP "historic" - says Health Minister
Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, has described the adoption of the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) as a historic and important milestone.
The NCOP passed the NHI Bill in Parliament in Cape Town on Wednesday with backing from all provinces, except the Western Cape.
“Today marks another important milestone on the journey by the country to realise Universal Health Coverage (UHC) to ensure universal access to quality and affordable healthcare for all South Africans, as enshrined in the Constitution,” Phaahla said on Wednesday.
Click here for "All you need to know" on the NHI.
Although there are still other processes to be followed before the Bill is signed into law, the Ministry of Health said it was pleased with the progress made so far.
“This is a landmark moment for our country and specifically for our health system as we move towards realising Universal Health Coverage through the phased-approached implementation of NHI as a mechanism to ensure equitable access to quality healthcare for all citizens,” the Minister said.
He said he is confident that with the support of all stakeholders, government will create a healthcare system that is fair, efficient and accessible to all.
Phaahla believes the provisions outlined in the NHI Bill represent a comprehensive and transformative approach to healthcare delivery in South Africa.
“It is founded on the principle that every South African, regardless of their socio-economic status, should have access to a comprehensive set of health services without facing any financial barriers.”
Reflecting on the positive outcome of the NCOP vote, Phaahla said it was crucial to remember the significant strides made in advancing the necessary policy and legislative frameworks to support the implementation of NHI.
“There have been positive and negative experiences in our taxing journey for us to reach this point. The journey in the process of the NHI Bill has not been without challenges,” he admitted.
These, he said, include financial considerations, workforce capacity, and the integration of existing, in some instances parallel, healthcare systems.
“These are issues that we must continue to collectively work together, to find the most practical solutions, to effectively and efficiently meet the health needs of our people.”
Meanwhile, he said the State remains committed to addressing these challenges through strategic planning, collaboration with stakeholders, and ongoing evaluation of the implementation processes.
“We recognise and appreciate the role that proactive stakeholder engagement plays in implementing such an important policy and legislative reform.”
According to Phaahla, the Ministry has since developed and adopted a comprehensive approach to stakeholder engagement to ensure diverse perspectives are considered as the country forges ahead with implementing NHI.
“Regarding the next key steps, we look forward to the Bill being forwarded to the President for consideration and promulgation. Once it receives Presidential assent, the Bill will become an Act of Parliament, creating a statutory mandate for the Minister and the National Department of Health.”
This will, the Minister said, enable key institutional and organisational structures, such as the NHI Fund, to be formally established in line with the provisions of the NHI Act.
“However, it is important for all stakeholders and the general public to note that this does not mean the provisions of the NHI Act, once promulgated, will all be implemented once-off without due consideration of the key requirements for transitional arrangements.
“Our intention has always been to have a rational, structured and phased approach to implementation. Without the accompanying regulations, directives, and operational procedures, the transformative impact of the Act cannot be realised,” he explained.
The Constitution empowers the President to set different dates for the effectiveness of various provisions within the Act.
According to the Minister, the department will prepare detailed regulations, covering all aspects of the process.
“Accordingly, the Minister will publish these regulations for public comment, encouraging transparency and inclusivity in shaping the governance of the NHI Fund and its enabling structures.
“Once regulations are finalised, the Minister and the department will proceed with the establishment of the NHI Fund, a process expected to take between six and 12 months post-proclamation of the Act, with subsequent phases involving additional regulations and implementation steps.”
Ideal Clinic programme
As part of preparations for the rollout of the NHI, government has, over the past years, undertaken the Ideal Clinic programme, amongst other initiatives. An Ideal Clinic is defined as a clinic with good infrastructure, adequate staff, adequate medicine and supplies, good administrative processes, and sufficient adequate bulk supplies.
It uses applicable clinical policies, protocols and guidelines, and it harnesses partner and stakeholder support. An Ideal Clinic also collaborates with other government departments, the private sector and non-governmental organisations to address the social determinants of health.
Integrated Clinical Services Management are a key focus within an Ideal Clinic. The purpose of Integrated Clinical Services Management is to respond to the growing burden of chronic diseases in South Africa in an efficient and cost effective manner.
The Ideal Clinic programme was started by South Africa in July 2013 as a way of systematically improving the quality of care provided in Primary Health Care facilities.
According to the Health Department's 2021/2022 Annual Report, there are 1 928 (55%) primary health care facilities that have attained ideal status. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Thu, 12/07/2023 - 11:08
37 views
Australian company to start seismic survey off West Coast in January
Environmental report acknowledges that seismic blasts, which are much louder than gunshots, can kill fish particularly those with swim bladders
Mchunu reaffirms commitment to deliver quality water services
Mchunu reaffirms commitment to deliver quality water services
Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu has reaffirmed the department’s commitment to continue efforts to ensure that citizens receive quality water services.
This comes as the department released the 2023 full Blue Drop and No Drop reports on drinking water quality, provision and wastewater management in the country.
The reports were released simultaneously with the awards for the best performing municipalities ceremony held on Tuesday to recognise the top-performing Water Services Authorities (WSAs) of 2023.
The Blue Drop Report evaluated all 958 water supply systems (WSSs) across 144 water services authorities. The evaluations considered factors such as infrastructure conditions, maintenance, operation, treatment processes, and staff expertise.
The No Drop Report focused on water losses and non-revenue water in all municipalities in the country.
The reports revealed a decline in drinking water quality and an increase in non-revenue water since the last reports issued in 2014.
Decline in water supply systems
According to the Blue Drop Report, only 26 water supply systems were able to achieve scores above 95% and qualified for the prestigious Blue Drop Certification. This is an overall decline from 2014, where 44 WSSs were awarded Blue Drop status.
The report revealed that the number of water supply systems in a critical state of performance increased from 174 in 2014 to 277 in 2023, indicating a significant decline in excellence between 2014 and 2023.
Drinking water systems in the major metropolitan areas were found to be generally performing well in terms of the Blue Drop key performance areas, with Gauteng having the highest percentage of drinking water systems with excellent or good performance (62%), followed by the Western Cape (50%).
In Gauteng, three municipalities have received National Blue Drop Certification.
These include Meyerton water supply system (provided by Rand Water Bulk Water Service) in Midvaal Local Municipality; Ekurhuleni water supply systems (provided by Rand Water Bulk Service), and the Greater Johannesburg water supply system (provided by Rand Water Bulk water supply systems).
“The water supply disruptions, which have been experienced in Gauteng in recent months, are caused by the demand for treated water occasionally exceeding the available supply of treated water,” Mchunu said.
The Northern Cape has the highest percentage of drinking water systems with poor or critical performance (87%), and this has deteriorated from 48% in 2014.
In the Free State, the percentage of drinking water systems with poor or critical performance has also deteriorated markedly between 2014 (31%) and 2023 (59%).
Based on water quality tests carried out by municipalities during the 2021/2022 municipal financial year, the report showed that 54% of water supply systems achieved excellent or good microbiological water quality compliance, while 46% achieved poor or bad microbiological water quality compliance.
While only 5% of water supply systems achieved poor or bad microbiological water quality compliance in 2014, the report noted a generally good drinking water quality in the major metropolitan areas.
The Blue Drop assessment further found that 85% of drinking water systems were in an average or better infrastructure condition. It noted that Gauteng has the lowest shortfalls of qualified staff, while the Northern Cape has the highest shortfalls of qualified staff.
Increase in non-revenue water
The 2023 No Drop assessment found that the national non-revenue water (NRW) increased from 37% in 2014 to 47% in 2023. The international average for non-revenue water is 30%.
The report attributed this to physical losses, including water leaking out of pipes above or underground, poorly functioning or non-existent water meters, illegal connections, and poor billing and revenue collection.
Four WSAs scored more than 90% and qualified for the prestigious No Drop Certification.
In order to reduce non-revenue water, Mchunu said municipalities need to improve the operation and maintenance of their infrastructure; repair leaks; improve metering, billing, revenue collection and debtor management; improve pressure management, and engage in community education and awareness, among other measures.
Mchunu said the department is working collaboratively with the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, including the Municipal Infrastructure Agency, Department of Human Settlements and National Treasury to address the findings of the Drop reports, and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals 6 (SDG6) by 2030.
“Action plans have been developed to address the key findings in the worst performing municipalities. These action plans include the provision of grants worth more than R20 billion per annum to municipalities, technical and engineering support and assistance, capacity building and training, and financial management advice and support,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Wed, 12/06/2023 - 10:23
229 views
Transgender woman who says she was raped in police custody has waited four years for justice
High Court judge critical of the Minister of Police’s “lackadaisical approach” to dealing with the matter
First buyers seize ownership at KZN South Coast’s exciting recent eco-estate development
Real estate on the KZN South Coast holds major potential for keen investors looking for a quality coastal property at unbeatable value for money. This is fast being realised as local and international buyers are investing in a number of catalytic property developments in the region. One such example is the R800m Serenity Hills eco-estate, …
Trains to return to Stellenbosch by year end, says Metrorail
Residents struggling to pay for alternative transport look forward to the return of rail services
Police watchdog is investigating torture charges against CCTV cops
Juma Igiranieza was assaulted on 7 November by police officers conducting a raid at his workplace
The Big Issue might shut down after R600,000 cyber scam
It was a targeted attack, says cyber security firm probing the theft from the magazine’s account
Constitutional Court accused of taking too long to rule on crucial election case
“I fear a further delay may begin to jeopardise the election process itself” says independent candidate Zackie Achmat
Men in blue set their sights on perpetrators
Men in blue set their sights on perpetrators
As the country marks the 16 Days of Activism of No Violence Against Women and Children campaign, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has highlighted the work of its men and women in blue who work tirelessly to put behind bars those involved in the abuse of women, children and vulnerable groups.
One such example is Warrant Officer Alistair Rezant who is attached to the Western Cape SAPS’s Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Investigations (FCS) unit.
With an overwhelming success rate, W/O Rezant has managed to secure a total of 1 105 years imprisonment sentence for rapists.
This year, the investigator secured a lengthy conviction for Riegard David Myburgh who was found guilty for numerous counts of rape and sexual assault charges. Myburgh is a paedophile who targeted young boys between 8 and 11 years of age between 2014 and 2019.
Because of Warrant Officer Rezant’s meticulous investigation, Myburgh’s name has been entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO) which records the names of persons who have been convicted of charges of sexual offences committed against a child or a mentally disabled person.
The member was also instrumental in securing the conviction of Mark Labuschagne who was a handyman at a retirement village in the Western Cape.
Labuschagne was sentenced to 15 years direct imprisonment for sexually assaulting an elderly women at the retirement village and for performing acts of self-masturbation in front of the elderly. His victims were aged between 70 and 96 years of age.
Labuschagne’s name was also recorded in both the Sexual Offences Register and the Abuse of Elderly Persons Register. In addition, he was declared unfit to possess a firearm and also unfit to work with children
The member has vowed to put more of such offenders behind bars.
“Cases related to GBV and sexual offences remains a priority for me. I always oppose bail applications for GBV perpetrators and ensure that all cases relating to rape and abuse are watertight so that they are not withdrawn at the court of law,” said W/O Rezant.
“These hefty sentences meted against sexual offenders should serve as a deterrent to would be offenders,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Tue, 11/28/2023 - 10:31
345 views
Book worms: Philippi learners ace Arts Centre book quiz
Learners compete to show they can read for meaning
Bureau Veritas AgriFood goes Solar in Cape Town
Bureau Veritas (https://group.BureauVeritas.com), a global leader in testing, inspection, and certification, announces that Bureau Veritas's AgriFood Laboratory in Cape Town has successfully completed a solar power and back up energy project that enables it to operate independently of the national electricity grid of South Africa.
Bureau Veritas has taken a bold step toward undertaking a solar and back up project that allows it to sustain its business continuity for its Cape Town AgriFood Laboratory. This development not only allows the laboratory to operate at full capacity, 24 hours a day and without interruptions, but it also represents a significant stride toward the Group's objectives and ongoing commitment to environmental sustainablity through reduced Carbon Emmisions.
Joanne Barton, Managing Director, Bureau Veritas AgriFood Labaratories, said: “Our transition to solar power has energised our team in Cape Town due to the reliability of our new system. We are delighted that we are able to serve our clients with 100% uptime, ensuring uninterrupted service and a brighter, more sustainable future for our community.
Gavin Hefer, District Chief Executive for Southern Africa, Bureau Veritas, commented: “We are extremely pleased with the team at our AgriFood Lab that has contributed to a project that allows us to better serve our clients in the Western Cape region. As a company that is committed to reducing our carbon footprint, it is imperative that we continue to relieve the national grid of pressure and operate in a way that is sustainable and environmentally responsible while delivering services to our clients without interruptions.”
Operating out of Brackenfell, in the northern suburbs of Cape Town, Bureau Veritas' AgriFood Laboratories, an ISO 17025:2017 SANAS accredited laboratory, is ideally situated to service role-players in the region's industrial hubs, as well as those operating the winelands, farming region, fruit orchards, wheatlands and rooibos fields, together with their associated value chains from coast to coast.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Bureau Veritas.
Media contacts:
Prince Cekeshe
+260 542 9824
Prince.Cekeshe@bureauveritas.com
Peter Moopela
+27 81 399 9737
jhbmandlsales@bureauveritas.com
About Bureau Veritas:
Bureau Veritas is a world leader in laboratory testing, inspection and certification services. Created in 1828, the Group has circa 84,000 employees located in nearly 1,600 offices and laboratories around the globe. Bureau Veritas helps its 400,000 clients improve their performance by offering services and innovative solutions in order to ensure that their assets, products, infrastructure and processes meet standards and regulations in terms of quality, health and safety, environmental protection and social responsibility.
Bureau Veritas is listed on Euronext Paris and belongs to the CAC 40 ESG, CAC Next 20 and SBF 120 indices.
Compartment A, ISIN code FR 0006174348, stock symbol: BVI.
For more information, visit www.BureauVeritas.com, and follow us on Twitter (https://apo-opa.co/47vbZMJ) (@bureauveritas) and LinkedIn (https://apo-opa.co/46yBcEv).